Keystone Pipeline Restarts After 147,000-Gallon Spill in North Dakota

The Keystone Pipeline has resumed operations after a temporary shutdown due to a spill near Fort Ransom, North Dakota, which occurred last week. The operator, South Bow, completed necessary repairs and received approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to restart the pipeline under 'carefully controlled' conditions, including reduced operating pressures and 24/7 monitoring. The spill involved approximately 3,500 barrels (147,000 gallons) of crude oil, with cleanup crews recovering over 1,170 barrels so far. The PHMSA is continuing its investigation into the incident, which was triggered by a mechanical failure heard by an employee. Despite the spill, analysts indicate that recent declines in oil prices have lessened the potential impact on gas prices. The pipeline, which runs from Alberta, Canada, to U.S. refineries, had been shut down from Canada to Illinois and Oklahoma, though the segment between Oklahoma and Texas remained operational.